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Social workers work with a variety of people such as toddlers, teenagers and the elderly on a variety of issues such as homelessness, divorce and depression. They work in hospitals, mental health clinics, homeless shelters and private practices.
High School
If you know you want to be a social worker in high school, volunteer to help others.
Bachelor's Degree
The minimum requirement for almost all social work jobs is a bachelor's degree in social work. However, there aren't very many bachelor's degree programs for social work, so many students applying to get into a master's in social work program have a psychology or human-development background.
Master's Degree
Most jobs, especially all counseling positions, require a master's degree in social work--or MSW--which can be obtained in two years.
Experience
A majority of master's programs require the students to complete internships, so they have real-world experience when they graduate.
License
Most states require that you obtain a license to practice therapy as a social worker.
DSW or Ph.D.
If you want to conduct research in the field or teach at the university level, you usually need to obtain a doctorate in social work--called a DSW--or Ph.D. in social work.
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